Cruising Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown

Queenstown on the South Island is the most popular tourism location for visitors to New Zealand and no wonder with all the attention paid by local operators to provide a great experience for guests. The beautiful natural surroundings can also take credit for a large part of this success.

Our recent stay was mainly for family reunion purposes and the base was the Oaks Shores Apartments set high above Lake Wakatipu. The property is a short drive or taxi ride away from the downtown area. You can also walk along a dedicated walkway skirting the lakefront, but we didn't get that energetic, opting for a cheap taxi ride or the free resort transfer bus.

This video explores the lake aboard the Million Dollar Cruise departing from Queenstown up to three times daily. The 90 minute cruise passes many luxurious waterfront homes and offers numerous majestic vistas of the often snowclad Southern Alps.

G Adventures, Ruedesheim and New Zealand

Regular Travelradio Australia host Ren Zwiers returns from his three week break in California and Las Vegas to introduce the following segments:

• Geoff Harrison interviews Jerry Pilgrim from G Adventures, which provides worldwide holidays for those who wish to do more than the normal five star experiences.
• David Gordon from Travelbites Radio visits the romantic Rhine region of Ruedesheim.
• Martha Bull from Around The World Radio/TV chats by with Diane Covington who is phoning in from New Zealand.

New Zealand tours, Rhine region and Munich, Germany and 'Moon Maya'.

• Geoff Harrison chats with Rod Henderson of ANZCRO Tours in New Zealand.
• David Gordon of Travelbites Radio goes wine tasting at Bingen, in the romantic Rhine region of Germany.
• Frances Beasley discovers the Munich Flour Mill in Germany.
• The team from Around the World Radio in California learn about the decline of the Mayans from author of 'The Moon Maya', Joshua Berman.

Helsinki, on the beach in Devonshire, Crossing the US by train and Queenstown, NZ

• Geoff Harrison visits Helsinki, Finland and discovers the delights of this nordic city with tourism boss Maarit Pitkanen.
• Frances Beasley goes to the beach in Devonshire, UK.
• Travelbites Radio host David Gordon flies from Northern Ireland  to the US East Coast and travels on by train across the North American continent to Los Angeles. In Santa Barbara (CA) he calls at the AroundTheWorld TV studio for a chat with host Arthur von Wiesenberger and his studio team.
• Geoff Harrison's 'Destination of the week' is Queenstown, New Zealand.

Travelradio Australia #175

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Mudhouse wines, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Belle Isle

John Crook reviews Mudhouse wines from New Zealand.
Ren Zwiers chats with Liz Tuckett from Sunshine Coast Destination Ltd
Geoff Harrison visits sub-tropical Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia.
David Gordon from Travelbites Radio discovers Belle Isle, Fermanagh (Northern Ireland).
Travelradio Australia #159

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Great wines, good food and Turnberry, Scotland

Another edition of Travelradio Australia is online for your listening enjoyment. In this show:

• Ren Zwiers has news on tourism growth in New Zealand
• John Crook provides details of Cirque de Soleil's forthcoming tour to Australia
• Frances Beasley reviews a new cookbook: 'Little Paris Kitchen'
• David Gordon visits Turnberry, Scotland
• John Crook interviews Tess Fisher of Yalumba Wines

LISTEN NOW

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Rave reviews for ultimate touring coach

The Grand Pacific Tours Ultimate Touring Coach has completed a 45 city Australian whirlwind tour, with outstanding reviews along the way.

On a tour comprising of five major city presentations and 40 viewings in regional Australia, Grand Pacific Tours Ultimate Touring Coach has been a hit with the public and industry alike. Individuals have been dazzled by the luxurious presentation of this incredible new state of the art vehicle. The chance to win a New Zealand Travel voucher also proved to be a major drawcard for the public, with many couples who won, booking on the spot!

The specially constructed coach, a $700,000 investment, has been designed to exacting specifications and created to take a maximum 20 travellers configured on a regular 49 seat coach. Fully reclinable extra-wide leather seating, deluxe wood grain finishes, a galley, state of the art in-coach entertainment system plus more luxuries await those travellers who will journey through New Zealand.

Brisbane coach builders, Coach Design, are extremely happy with the final product and have declared that this is the most luxurious coach they have ever had the pleasure of building.

With the discerning traveller in mind, the key emphasis has been placed on amazing food and wine, luxurious accommodation and iconic activities. This amazing holiday will satisfy any appetite for a new and unique journey.

The Ultimate New Zealand Experience shall commence in Christchurch and journey along the east coast to Dunedin, Fiordland, Te Anau, Queenstown, Mt Cook, Hanmer Springs, Nelson, Blenheim and Kaikoura before returning to Christchurch.

Some of the included attractions and activities are Breakfast with the Penguins, guided tour of Larnach Castle, Overnight Doubtful Sound Cruise, Helicopter flight and a special landing on the Remarkables, the famed Shotover Jet ride, Greenshell Mussel Cruise, spectacular wine maker’s dinner in Marlborough and an amazing Whale watching experience.

The Ultimate Touring Coach finished its tour in Melbourne on August 22, with a final viewing at the Grand Pacific Offices in Moonee Ponds. The vehicle will now be shipped to New Zealand to commence touring forever.

For a full details on the Ultimate New Zealand Experience visit www.ultimatenewzealand.com.au or call Grand Pacific Tours on 1800 622 768.